Tennessee Death Records

Tennessee's mortality rate of 991.1 per 100,000 residents is one of the highest in the United States. It is significantly higher than the national average, which stands at 793.7 deaths per 100,000 total population. Statewide recording of death was not required in Tennessee until 1908, but the law that required it lapsed in 1912. As a result, the state did not keep any records of death events in 1913, but a new law was passed that year, following which statewide recording of death resumed in 1914. Tennessee records an average of 80,667 deaths annually.

A death record is a legal document that records the details of an individual's death and typically includes the time, date, and place of death. It also has the deceased person's personal details, the cause of death, and other important information. The following types of death records are available in Tennessee:

• Death Certificate Without Cause - This is a certified copy of a death certificate that does not have the cause of death.
• Death Certificate With Cause of Death - Also a certified copy of a death certificate, but it includes the cause of death.
• Death Verification - This is primarily for informational purposes and is used for the verification of a death event. It is not a certified copy of a death certificate, and the cause of death is not disclosed on this document.

In Tennessee, physicians are responsible for completing and signing the medical certification of death, especially in non-medical examiner cases. Afterward, the original death certificate is filed with the state's Office of Vital Records, where eligible persons may request certified copies of the certificate. A certified copy of a death certificate is generally a copy of the original death certificate. However, it has been verified by some legal authority and usually has a government seal or stamp.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Tennessee?

The Office of Vital Records under the Tennessee Department of Health is responsible for issuing certified copies of death records in the state. Interested persons may submit their requests in any of the following ways to get a certified copy of a Tennessee death certificate:

• Mail Application - To submit a request for a certified copy of a death certificate in Tennessee, do the following:

  • Fill out the Application for a Certified Copy of a Tennessee Certificate of Death Form

  • Prepare a copy of a valid ID, which could be any of the following:

    • A notarized application for a certified copy
    • A photocopy of a government-issued ID bearing the requester's signature
    • Any other alternative and acceptable ID
  • Pay a $15 fee for the first copy and another $15 for each additional copy in the same request by money order or check made payable to Tennessee Vital Records

  • Mail the complete application form, payment proof, and photocopy of the identification document to the Tennessee Department of Health at:

    Tennessee Vital Records

    1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower

    710 James Robertson Parkway

    Nashville, TN 37243

• In-Person Application - Interested persons may submit their applications for certified copies of Tennessee death certificates in person at the Office of Vital Records or the local county health departments:

  • In-Person Application at the Office of Vital Records - A requester should submit their paper application and provide an acceptable identification at the Vital Records Office's customer service window between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., Monday to Friday. Application forms are available on the counter to the left as requesters walk into the Andrew John Tower office. Requesters can pay the application fee by check, cash, money order, or debit/credit card at the customer service window of the Office of Vital Records.
  • In-Person Application at the Local County Health Department - Eligible persons no longer need to travel to the county where deaths occurred in Tennessee before they can obtain such death certificates. The Office of Vital Records has introduced an electronic issuance system that enables all county health departments to now issue certified copies of death certificates registered with it statewide. A requester only needs to submit a completed application form, supporting documents, and the applicable fee ($15) at any local county health department.

  While in-person requests for certified copies of a Tennessee death certificate are typically processed the same day, it takes about 4 weeks for the Office of Vital Records to process applications submitted by mail. However, these timelines may change due to the volume of applications received by the Office of Viral Records and workforce demands.

Are Tennessee Death Records Public?

Records of death events under 50 years are exempt from the Tennessee Public Records Act and, therefore, considered confidential. Per Section 68-3-205 of the state's Code, it is unlawful to disclose the information contained in death records or allow inspection or copying of the records. To protect the integrity of a death record in Tennessee and ensure its proper use, only certain individuals or entities are authorized to obtain certified copies of the record or other copies containing the cause of death. However, when 50 years have elapsed after the date of death, a Tennessee death record becomes public under state law.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Tennessee?

Once filed with the Tennessee Office of Vital Records, an original death certificate does not leave the office. Hence, no individual may request an original death certificate in the state. Only certified copies may be issued to persons who are eligible to get them. Per Section 68-3-205(d)(2)(D) of the Tennessee Code, the following individuals or entities may request certified copies of a death certificate in the state:

• The decedent's spouse, parents, children, next of kin, or authorized representatives.
• Any organization (of their representative) that provides benefits to the decedent's beneficiaries or survivors.
• Anyone with an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
• Any individual who has a document to establish their legal right or claim to the certificate.
• A representative of a government department authorized by state law to obtain death records.
• A local, state, or federal agency for administrative or research purposes authorized by the state registrar.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Tennessee?

Depending on the method of request, it takes anywhere from 24 hours to about 4 weeks for the Tennessee Office of Vital Records to process an application for a certified copy of a death certificate already filed with the Vital Records Office. In other words, it is possible to get a death certificate approximately 4 weeks after the death of a person for a death that occurred under a regular or normal circumstance. However, if a death warrants an autopsy, it will take a longer time before any eligible person may obtain a certified copy of the death certificate.

Generally, if a death is unusual or suspicious, Tennessee requires that an autopsy and/or a medical exam be conducted to determine the manner and cause of death. Hence, it will take a while before the original earth certificate is ready because completing an autopsy generally takes several days, depending on the complex nature of the case and the required tests or investigations. In Tennessee, final autopsy reports may take between 90 to 180 days before they are complete. This generally affects how long it takes to prepare the death certificate after the death of someone who died under an unusual circumstance.

Can I View Tennessee Death Records online for free?

The index to Tennessee death records from 1908 to 1912 and 1914 to 1933 are available online for free through the Tennessee State Library &Archives. Also, records of death events that occurred in the state between 1908 and 1965 are available online at Ancestry.com. In addition, sites like FamilySearch.org contain old records of deaths that have occurred in Tennessee. Furthermore, eligible persons may obtain records of deaths that take place in the state through some reliable third-party sites like Tennesseepulbicrecords.us at a nominal fee.

When there are no official records of a death event in Tennessee, the best places to check to obtain information about such deaths are substitute records. These records may be viewed free of charge, and they include obituaries, newspapers, church records, cemetery records, tax records, tax records, probate records, family bible records, and census mortality schedules.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Tennessee?

A death certificate is important and is required for several legal reasons, as well as statistical and administrative purposes in Tennessee. These include the following:

• For final disposition of the decedent's body
• Settling the decedent's estate.
• It serves as a data source for mortality statistics, which ultimately is used to allocate funds for research, direct public health efforts, and assess the effectiveness of preventative initiatives.
• Informing relevant government agencies like the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service of a person's death.
• Accessing benefits like life insurance proceeds, veterans' benefits, Social Security benefits, and pension benefits.
• Genealogy research.
• Transferring ownership of real estate, vehicles, and other decedent's property.
• Closing the decedent's bank accounts and canceling their credit cards to prevent unauthorized use and identity theft.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Tennessee?

An average of 8 to 12 certified copies of a death certificate should be adequate when requesting copies of a death certificate in Tennessee. However, the actual number needed will largely be determined by the number of legal and administrative purposes for which they are required and the size of the decedent's estate. When deciding the number of copies needed, it is best to consider the number of institutions requiring a copy and the decedent's assets.